Raising awareness level on rabies

This time, it is about suspected rabies’ deaths in Lagos.Already, two young Nigerians are said to have fallen victims and the veterinarians said except the awareness level is raised among the populace, more casualties are likely to be recorded in what could become another endemic outbreak.Experts said rabies is one of the most deadly and […]

This time, it is about suspected rabies’ deaths in Lagos.
Already, two young Nigerians are said to have fallen victims and the veterinarians said except the awareness level is raised among the populace, more casualties are likely to be recorded in what could become another endemic outbreak.
Experts said rabies is one of the most deadly and well known of all the viruses.
All warm-blooded animals are said to be at the risk of contracting rabies even though some species are considered much more resistant than others.
Dogs, monkeys, raccoons, bats, cows and cats, among others, have been identified as potentially risk animals for rabies in this part of the world.
Doctors noted that the transmission of the virus is almost always through a bite from a rabid animal. It is believed that transmission of the disease almost always occurs as a result of an infected animal biting a non-infected animal (s) or human beings.
After contracting the virus, victims are known to demonstrate a number of symptoms including haemorrhagic fever.
With that knowledge, Lagos vet doctors said that they could not have thought twice of any other ailment that could have been responsible for the death of James Makwa Musa, 14 and Aishat Opakunle, a 21-year old National Diploma holder, after dog bites, recently than rabies.
“The victims, Master James Makwa Musa and Miss Aishat Opakunle, who both resided at 114 road 1A. Mologode Estate, Meiran were reported to have been bitten on 11th of July, 2014 by a neighbourhood dog named ‘Jerry’, a mongrel belonging to one Mr Ogundiran in Meiran area of the state.
Miss  Opakunle died on Friday August 8 while Makwa Musa died after a brief battle for his life.
Both of them showed vital signs of rabies in human beings.
“Signs which includes, fever, delirium, abnormal behaviour, numbness and loss of muscle function, drooling of saliva, hallucination, restlessness, swallowing difficulty and hydrophobia (fear of water).
“The suspect dog died five days after biting these young people while its owner is now said to be at large,” the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of NMVA, Dr Mobolaji Alao said at a press briefing.
The NMVA boss said that the fact that the suspected dog died five days after biting these young two young people confirmed their worst fear that they died of suspected rabid bite.
He said once contracted there is no cure and death is almost always the outcome.
“The untimely death of this two young promising Nigerians amongst others could have been prevented. In order to stop further loss of lives of innocent Nigerians, NVMA Lagos is appealing to the state government to as a matter of urgency, remove with immediate effect, all stray dogs in the Meiran area of Alimosho Local Government and screened for any possibility of rabies infection,” Dr Alao said.
According to the vet doctor, the measure being suggested is one out of many in the series of other measures to follow because the death of the two victims portend a grave danger if nothing is done faster.
Other suggested measures by the vet doctors include: mandating all dog owners in Meiran area to vaccinate their pets (dogs and cats) and present an up to date vaccination certificate of their pet from a qualified veterinary surgeon, stronger legislation from the state house of assembly geared towards responsible pet owners in the state as well as institution of a compulsory pet registration programme complete with animal identification tagging and enforcement of leash laws.
“We are also asking that there be massive awareness campaign against rabies to be embarked upon in all local governments in the state, all state government veterinary hospitals should be thoroughly refurbished and be equipped with necessary rabid ante mortem and post mortem diagnostic facilities such as immunoflurescent anti-body technique among others to help conclusively diagonise rabies.
“Adequate staffing, training and equipping of the animal control unit of the veterinary department under the ministry of agric dubbed ‘the stray animal’ rescue unit and the need to chase out of the system, some quacks who are handling veterinary biological, especially pet vaccines (anti rabies vaccines and DHLPP vaccines), among others,” Dr Alao said.
In recognition of the two victims, the NVMA said it will be dedicating September 28 2014, the World Rabies Day to the memory of James Musa and Aisha Opakunle.